Discusses part of a large-scale survey on the oral performance of advanced French-as-a-second-language students, as represented by recorded speech. Although schwa rarely leads to semantic confusions, its analysis in word-median or monosyllabic contexts shows interesting phonostylistic variations. (Author/VWL)

Reports on GLOSSER, an intelligent assistant for Dutch students learning to read French, and discusses the position of natural-language processing within computer-assisted instruction, using GLOSSER as an example. (Author/VWL)

An analytical approach for teaching foreign language reading to students includes: identifying and discussing the components of reading (communication, notional area, anticipation and retrospection, text, coherence, cohesion, information), contriving short problem-solving exercises, and systematically training pupils in the various operations at…

There is a tendency for students studying a French lesson to lose the positive effects gained during the listening and speaking phase when they read the "Lecture" sections of their texts. A study of six beginning level French texts shows that the "Lecture" is difficult for students and not systematically graduated in difficulty. (PJM)

States that development of oral reading skills, with the relevant methods and goals, has been largely disregarded by present-day thinking on language instruction. Argues that these skills are an important aspect of communicative competence and suggests activities designed for various levels of language proficiency. (MES)

Analyzes the role played by oral language skills and by metalinguistic capacities in the reading performance of young beginner readers in French as a second language who are in a situation of successive bilingualism and observing whether differences exist between them and their francophone peers of the same age. (Author/VWL)

As a result of learning French in a situation in which only speech skills are necessary and reading and writing skills are not, Tunisians produce fixed, economical, and valid usage that is incorrect or unacceptable in relation to the norm. (MSE)